Mike Tyson has made a new prediction for the upcoming Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk fight but has caveated it with the warning that he ‘could be wrong.’
After many months of speculation, a firm date was finally announced for the first undisputed heavyweight match-up in 24 years. Fury and Usyk will come to blows on February 17 when the WBC, WBC, IBF and WBO belts, plus the lineal title, will all be on the line.
The fight was originally planned for December 23 but in light of Fury’s battle with MMA fighter turned boxing novice Francis Ngannou – who enlisted ‘Iron’ Mike to help him train and has since been ranked by the WBC – it was pushed back to give him time to recover.
As such the excitement is already building for when the two best in the division come together. The fight presents Ukrainian southpaw Usyk with a chance to become undisputed in a second division following his achieving that feat down a cruiserweight, a similar achievement to one made by Evander Holyfield.
Speaking to FightHub TV, Tyson was asked who he thought would come out on top – and is picking ‘The Gypsy King’.
“I’m gunna look forward to that fight. I’m going with Tyson Fury, I think he’s going to overpower him, catch up with him and overpower him, that’s what I think but I could be wrong.”
Tyson, who was used to being the smaller man throughout his heavyweight career, was asked about the impact of facing shorter opponents.
“Little guys are difficult to fight ’cause they’re harder to hit ’cause they’re smaller. He runs a lot, he moves a lot, Tyson’s probably gunna have a few rounds to get used to his moments but it’s gunna be difficult, he’s very small, very fast.”
Whatever happens, the boxing world doesn’t have long to wait to find out.